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Millions of commuters experience all sorts of sights in the New York City subway system. For many, the subway experience can feel overstimulating and unpredictable, with the presence of loud noises and big crowds. Tensions can be exacerbated by the limited visibility, the anonymity that big crowds offer, and the compact areas of trains and platforms. Assaults and robbery are among many of the significant rises in violence that have occurred in recent years.
The increase in crime reports has instilled a sense of fear in commuters. Particularly in the late hours when the subway is less crowded, many passengers, especially youth, women, and other vulnerable groups, voice concerns about solo commuting. Myrian Horne is a junior at Fordham University Rose Hill and is on track to receiving a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics. As a native of Brooklyn, New York, Horne expresses their concerns about commuting between home, work, and campus: “Over the span of my life, day by day, year by year, the transit system has gotten more unsafe. From day to night, people have to look over their shoulder for people who could harm them with weapons, push them into the tracks, or even patrolling officers who could take their life over fare evasions.”
Most New York City subways are filled with people facing addictions, mental health crises, and homelessness. For some, the subway offers people a warm and sheltered environment, and for others, the subway serves as an escape from the realities above ground. Mental health crises are a prominent problem in urban transportation networks, especially in New York City. Passengers may witness episodes of erratic behavior, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. Because of the stigma associated with people facing difficulties in the subway, it can be challenging for those who need assistance or establish relationships within the community.
So, the people are struggling, and commuters feel unsafe. How does the government respond? By deploying military troops. Following an order of 1,000 additional officers in the subway set by New York City Mayor Eric Adams in February of 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul has decided to “…deploy 1,000 members of the State Police, the National Guard and the transportation authority to ‘conduct bag checks in the city’s busiest stations’” in March of 2024. For many commuters, the overly militarized police presence in the subways further fosters an atmosphere of fear, not safety. Stop and frisk statistics in 2023 show “…89 percent of those who were stopped are Black and Latinx.” This additional exposure may also impact marginalized groups experiencing racial profiling.
From education, mental health support, and drug addiction to housing, nutrition, and affordable healthcare, the people feel their vital needs have not been addressed. Whether it’s an unpaid bill or an expensive health condition, many struggle to keep afloat in a sinking economy. So, what do people do? Some fall into a life of crime, such as robbery or distributing illegal drugs, which is often normalized in impoverished communities. Others fall into coping mechanisms such as substance abuse.
In order to tackle the issues of safety in the subway, many social activists, such as New York City’s Rider Alliance, have prompted the government to address the underlying issues of the people. Increased police funding has led alliance members to believe that “…holistic community investments can reduce the burden on police officers who are unequipped to deal with riders’ most pressing issues.” Advocates aim to establish a safe subway system by focusing on de-escalation training for law enforcement and community involvement. To build a safer and more just subway system, the people have demanded that tax money for public well-being should come first.
Maxaine Byron, a junior at Fordham University at Rose Hill, is on track to receive her Bachelor’s and Masters’s degrees in Social Work. Byron expresses her sentiments that “The police won’t make the subway safer. They haven’t. Being more preventative will allow us to be less reactive.” The fundamental causes of problems like homelessness and mental health crises can be addressed by rerouting tax money away from excessive policing. Cities can establish an atmosphere that attends to public needs instead of depending exclusively on law enforcement by ensuring that the supply of public health resources meets the demand of the people.
In addition to giving people access to jobs, education, and other necessities, public transportation is crucial for bringing communities together. For many, it serves as more than just a mode of transportation; it encourages social bonding or independence by allowing people to interact with one another and their city. The people urge that by allocating tax funds to community well-being, the community as a whole will benefit from improved public health and general quality of life.
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This article was edited by Brianna Budhram and Siya Patel.
